The Golden State Warriors formally tendered Jonathan Kuminga a $7.9 million qualifying supply which is able to make the ahead a restricted free agent as anticipated, sources confirmed.
Kuminga, the No. 7 total choose within the 2021 draft, is a serious precedence for the Warriors coming into free company, which begins on June 30. The Brooklyn Nets are the one group that may supply Kuminga a beginning wage of $20 million or extra in line with ESPN’s Bobby Marks. The Warriors have the proper to match any supply and may discover sign-and-trade choices as effectively.
Kuminga’s future can influence what the Warriors are capable of do in free company and the way they’ll encompass Stephen Curry, Jimmy Butler and Draymond Inexperienced with extra assist. The Warriors want a middle, extra taking pictures, protection and playmaking.
Kuminga averaged 15.3 factors and 4.6 rebounds this previous season. He performed in 47 common season video games, lacking 31 straight video games at one level within the season attributable to a extreme ankle harm. The Warriors traded for Butler whereas Kuminga was out and had been a a lot totally different group when Kuminga returned to the courtroom. He fell out of Steve Kerr’s rotation on the finish of the season and within the playoffs till accidents to Butler and Curry within the postseason opened up enjoying time for him. Kuminga, the Warriors’ most athletically explosive participant, averaged 24.2 factors with Curry out within the ultimate 4 video games of Golden State’s second-round loss to Minnesota.
“I believe we’re in a great place with it, truthfully,” Warriors GM Mike Dunleavy Jr. informed reporters of Kuminga at his pre-draft availability final Monday. “… I would prefer to determine one thing out ahead of later. That might be nice. However I additionally acknowledge with restricted free company these items can drag out just a little bit and take a while. “I believe we really feel fairly snug with who JK is as a participant and what he can do for our group, and it is a most important precedence going into free company.”
Kevon Looney and Gary Payton II, two key function gamers for the Warriors, are additionally free brokers. Dunleavy stated the Warriors will likely be “within the combine” within the commerce market looking for alternatives to enhance the roster.
“We have got some free brokers which might be priorities,” Dunleavy stated. “We have got to deal with that. However a few of that stuff might lead into trades and different issues.
“… I believe with our cap and technique group, these guys are actually good. It is laborious to say, although, now truthfully so far as what’s on the market and what may occur [in the trade market]. However we’ll positively be within the combine. I believe we have proven a historical past of doing that.”